Barbed wire fence on Bangladesh border, land transfer to BSF within 45 days; Suvendu begins work in Bengal

KOLKATA: Crucial new decisions were taken in the first cabinet meeting of the first BJP government in West Bengal. One of the first decisions of the government is to hand over the land to the Border Security Force for erecting a barbed wire fence in the region where Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was a hot topic. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed that his cabinet decided to immediately implement the census procedures in the state. The first cabinet meeting was held two days after taking the oath.

The West Bengal government will hand over the land required for erecting a barbed wire fence along the Bangladesh border to the BSF within 45 days. Suvendu said that the Land Revenue Secretary and the Chief Secretary have been given the responsibility for this. The BJP said that foreign nationals from Muslim-majority Bangladesh are illegally entering Bengal, and alleged that so far, the Trinamool Party has allowed 'infiltrators' to enter illegally and stay undetected in exchange for votes.

The first cabinet meeting also decided to extend the age limit for applying for government jobs by five years. Suvendu Adhikari also clarified that welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, started by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, will continue in the state.